Thursday, December 27, 2012

Long Duration Balloon Launch

Supporting the Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Facility is a big part of my job, so when they launch a payload it feels great. Long duration means up to a month, but more typical is 10 to 14 days. This is compared to the hours long balloon launches by weather techs. These balloons can reach an altitude of 120,000' The payloads, full of science stuff, are assembled in one of two large buildings and then attached to the launch vehicle for transport to the launch pad. There are two or three launches every season. Really cool science and some amazing scientists. I talked string theory with one of the guys just like on the TV show Big Bang Theory. Fascinating, too bad I didn't really understand...

About Me

I love to travel, it restores my faith in humanity. I love my friends, they ground me. Though my heart belongs to Alaska, a place I lived for 20 wonderful years, I am bound to no one place and seem to find the need to explore our world regularly. One of these days I want roots, or at least a place for all my souvenirs.